JP2006082050A - Apparatus for producing transparent layer for optical information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for producing a transparent layer for an optical information recording medium, in which the transparent layer stable in quality can be produced. <P>SOLUTION: This apparatus 10 for producing the transparent layer for the optical information recording medium by forming a hard coat layer on a base B being a base material film while conveying the base B from a roll film 1 of the base B is provided with: an application part 2 for applying a coating liquid in order to form the hard coat layer on the base B; a drying part 4 for drying the coating liquid applied to the base B; and an ultraviolet ray irradiation part 5 for irradiating the coating liquid-applied surface of the base B with ultraviolet rays to cure the coating liquid dried by the drying part 4. The ultraviolet ray irradiation part 5 comprises a driving roller 15 being a reference of a conveying rate of the base B, so that the coating liquid-applied surface of the base B is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from a light source 16 while conveying the base B by the driving roller 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides a transparent layer for an optical information recording medium, in which a hard coat layer is formed on the base while the base is conveyed from a base fabric to be a base film to produce a transparent layer for an optical information recording medium It relates to a manufacturing apparatus.

  Currently, in order to support the recording of digital high-vision TV broadcasts, research on optical information recording media that enable higher-density recording than high-density optical information recording media (DVD) is underway. And optical disk systems using high NA (Numerical Aperture) pickups have been developed.

  As such an optical disk system, for example, there is a next-generation optical disk standard called a blue-ray disk. A blue ray disc is an optical information recording medium having a recording layer on a substrate and a transparent layer on the laser incident side of the recording layer. For example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, the transparent layer is formed by applying a hard coat layer for preventing scratches to the surface of a light transmission layer made of polycarbonate.

  The production apparatus for producing the transparent layer is, for example, a base raw material obtained by winding a polycarbonate base used as a base film of the transparent layer around a winding core, and a base for sending and transporting the base from the base raw material. A driving roller, an application part for applying an ultraviolet curable composition for forming a hard coat layer on a base conveyed by the driving roller by an application member, and drying for drying the ultraviolet curable composition applied by the application part An ultraviolet irradiation unit that cures the ultraviolet curable composition dried by the drying unit by ultraviolet irradiation, and a winding unit that winds the base that has passed through the ultraviolet irradiation unit around the core.

  The above-mentioned manufacturing apparatus handles handling with constant treatment in feeding out the base, applying the ultraviolet curable composition, drying the ultraviolet curable composition, irradiating the ultraviolet curable composition with ultraviolet rays, and winding the base. As is done in the state, the conveying speed of the base is controlled by the drive roller. Conventionally, a pull roll, which is a driving roller provided between the coating section and the drying section, serves as a reference for the transport speed of the base B. By controlling this pull roll, the base roll is controlled at a predetermined speed. B is transported.

JP 2000-67468 A

  The quality of the transparent layer depends greatly on the conditions of the ultraviolet irradiation treatment by the ultraviolet irradiation unit. However, conventionally, since the transport speed of the base B is determined by a pull roll located away from the ultraviolet irradiation unit, it is difficult to make the conditions of the ultraviolet irradiation treatment by the ultraviolet irradiation unit constant, and the quality of the transparent layer is reduced. It was difficult to stabilize.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a transparent layer manufacturing apparatus for an optical information recording medium capable of manufacturing a transparent layer with stable quality.

  The apparatus for producing a transparent layer for an optical information recording medium according to the present invention comprises forming a hard coat layer on the base while transporting the base from a base material serving as a base film, and forming a transparent layer for the optical information recording medium. An apparatus for producing a transparent layer for an optical information recording medium for producing a layer, wherein a coating part for applying a coating liquid for forming the hard coat layer on the base and a coating liquid applied to the base are dried. And a light irradiation unit that irradiates the surface of the base coated with the coating liquid with light for curing the coating liquid after drying in the drying unit, and the light irradiation unit includes: A drive roller serving as a reference for the transport speed of the base is included, and the light is irradiated while the base is transported by the drive roller.

  With this configuration, light is radiated while the base is transported by a drive roller that is a reference for the transport speed of the base, so that the conditions when the coating solution is cured can be made constant, and a transparent layer with stable quality can be obtained. Can be manufactured.

  In the apparatus for producing a transparent layer for an optical information recording medium according to the present invention, the coating part performs coating by a post-metering type coating method.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the manufacturing apparatus of the transparent layer for optical information recording media which can manufacture the transparent layer with stable quality can be provided.

  The optical information recording medium referred to in the present invention is an information recording medium capable of reproducing an information signal by optical means. The optical information recording medium of the present invention basically comprises a substrate, a recording layer, and a transparent layer. Further, in the optical information recording medium, these constituent elements may be interchanged or combined with each other within a range not hindering the content of the invention. In an optical information recording medium, it is necessary that at least one of these components be present, but each may be present in a plurality of layers, and each layer is composed of a plurality of layers having different compositions and properties. May be. In addition to the above layers, the optical information recording medium may be provided with an antistatic layer, a lubricating layer, a protective layer, a reflective layer, and the like. Further, label printing may be performed on the opposite side of the substrate from the recording layer.

  The optical information recording medium has, for example, a disk shape, and dimensions such as a diameter are not limited. The optical information recording medium may be configured to be housed and held in a cartridge housing.

  The transparent layer has a function of guiding light irradiated for recording / reproduction to the recording layer, and also has a function of protecting the recording layer chemically and mechanically. In the present invention, “transparent” means that the light transmittance is 70% or more, preferably 85% or more with respect to the wavelength of light of an optical means used for recording and reproduction (for example, 600 nm to 800 nm or 350 nm to 450 nm). means. The cover layer has a transmittance of 90% to 92%.

  The transparent layer has a base film (translucent film) and has a hard coat layer for preventing scratches on the surface thereof, and appropriately includes an adhesive layer and an antifouling layer. be able to. As the base film, for example, polycarbonate, triacetyl cellulose (TAC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyimide, polyamide, or the like can be used.

  The hard coat layer is formed by applying and drying an ultraviolet curable composition that is cured by irradiation with active energy rays, preferably ultraviolet rays, on a substrate film, and then curing the composition by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. In the ultraviolet curable composition, a compound containing two or more ethylenically unsaturated groups in the same molecule which is polymerized or cross-linked by ultraviolet irradiation and cured is preferably used.

  The thickness of the hard coat layer is preferably 1.0 μm to 10.0 μm, more preferably 2.0 μm to 6.0 μm, and particularly preferably 2.5 μm to 5.0 μm.

  The pencil hardness of the hard coat layer is preferably B or more, and more preferably H or more. The pencil hardness here refers to a pencil whose scratches are not recognized at a load of 9.8 N according to the pencil hardness evaluation method specified by JIS-K-5400 using a test pencil specified by JIS-S-6006. It can be determined as hardness.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a transparent layer manufacturing system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a transparent layer manufacturing apparatus for an optical information recording medium according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the transparent layer manufacturing apparatus 10 has a base fabric (bulk) 1 formed by winding a base B made of polycarbonate around a core, and the base B is wound around the core and held. In this configuration, the base B is transported between the base roll 1 and the take-up roll 6. The thickness of the base B is 80 μm to 100 μm.

  The manufacturing apparatus 10 includes a coating unit 2, a pass roller 3, a drying unit 4, and an ultraviolet irradiation unit 5 (corresponding to a light irradiation unit in claims) in order along the conveyance direction of the base B. Yes.

  The coating unit 2 includes a coating member 13 and a coating rod 14 connected to a coating liquid supply unit (not shown). The application unit 2 transfers the excess coating solution from the coating solution supply unit to the base B, and then remains stationary or excessively applied by the coating rod 14 rotating at an arbitrary peripheral speed in the forward and reverse directions with the base B. The application liquid is scraped off and applied by a so-called post-metering type application method in which a desired application amount is applied to the base B. As the application unit 2, for example, a blade coater, a rod bar coater, a wire bar coater, or the like can be used. In the post-measuring type coating method, the coating solution can be applied at a high speed.

  The application member 13 is a movable member so that it can be arbitrarily set to a position where the application rod 14 is pressed against the base B (a position where the application rod 14 is wrapped) and a position where the application rod 14 is separated from the base B. In the manufacturing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the application member 13 is moved during application to a position where the application rod 14 is pressed against the base B, and the application rod 14 is separated from the base B except during application. It is the structure to do.

  In this embodiment, as an example of the coating solution, a solvent such as isopropyl alcohol (IPA), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), methyl ethyl butyl ketone (MIBK), Si particles, an ultraviolet curable resin, and a polymerization initiator are used. A composition consisting of

  The pass roller 3 is configured to be rotatable according to the transported base B. In the present embodiment, the pass roller 3 is a free roller that is not connected to a drive system such as a drive shaft or a drive motor.

  The drying unit 4 is for drying the coating liquid applied to the base B while transporting the base B.

  The ultraviolet irradiation unit 5 includes a driving roller 15 and a light source 16 that emits ultraviolet light (ultraviolet light), and the base B is transported by the driving roller 15 and the surface of the base B coated with the coating liquid is a light source. 16 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the coating layer. Here, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 5 may be configured to irradiate light of active energy other than ultraviolet rays as long as the coating liquid can be cured.

  The driving roller 15 is driven to rotate during the operation of the apparatus, contacts the base B on the peripheral surface thereof and transports the base B, and serves as a reference for the transport speed of the base B. The driving roller 15 is controlled by a roller control unit (not shown) and transports the base B at a constant speed. The driving roller 15 may have a configuration in which a groove is provided on the surface in order to secure a holding force with respect to the base B, or a configuration in which the base B is sucked and held by sucking air.

Next, the configuration of the application unit will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the application unit in the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, a pass roller 11 is provided on the upstream side of the application member 13 in the transport direction of the base B, and a pass roller 12 is provided on the downstream side of the application member 13.

  The pass rollers 11 and 12 are configured to be rotatable according to the transported base B. In the present embodiment, these pass rollers 11 and 12 are free rollers that are not connected to a drive system such as a drive shaft or a drive motor.

  Even when the coating member 13 comes into contact with the transported base B during coating and the transport path length of the base B changes, the pass rollers 11 and 12 that support the transported base B are free rollers. The pass rollers 11 and 12 can freely rotate so as to follow the speed of the base B. For this reason, stick slip does not occur due to a change in the contact pressure between the base B and the pass rollers 11 and 12, and the base B is prevented from buckling at a portion where it contacts the pass rollers 11 and 12. be able to.

Hereinafter, the operation of the manufacturing apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 will be described.
The base B sent out from the base fabric 1 passes through the pass roller 11 and reaches the application unit 2 where the application liquid is applied. The base B to which the coating liquid has been applied passes through the pass roller 12 and the pass roller 3 and reaches the drying unit 4, where the applied coating liquid is dried. The base B from which the coating liquid has been dried reaches the ultraviolet irradiation unit 5. In the ultraviolet irradiation unit 5, the base B contacts the peripheral surface of the driving roller 15 and is conveyed at a constant speed, while the surface of the base B applied with the coating liquid is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the light source 16, thereby applying the coating. The liquid is cured. The base B that has passed through the ultraviolet irradiation section 5 is wound around a winding core, and a winding roll 6 is formed.

  As described above, according to the manufacturing apparatus 10, when the base B is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, the transport speed of the base B is controlled to be constant by the driving roller 15, and therefore the ultraviolet rays are spread over the entire base B. Irradiation processing conditions are constant. For this reason, the quality of a transparent layer can be stabilized.

  Further, since a post-metering type coating device is used as the coating unit 2, the transport speed of the base B during the ultraviolet irradiation process is constant without being affected by the transport speed of the base B during the coating liquid coating process. Can be. If a pre-weighing type coating apparatus is used as the coating unit 2, the transport speed of the base B during the ultraviolet irradiation process is affected by the change in the transport speed of the base B during the coating liquid coating process. Although the rotational speed of the drive roller 15 cannot be made constant, this is not the case according to this embodiment.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A suitable deformation | transformation, improvement, etc. are possible.

It is a figure explaining the structure of the manufacturing apparatus which manufactures the transparent layer for optical information recording media based on this invention. It is a figure explaining the structure of the application part in the manufacturing apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

B Base 1 Base material 2 Coating unit 3 Pass roller 4 Drying unit 5 Ultraviolet irradiation unit 6 Winding roll 10 Manufacturing device 15 (transparent layer for optical information recording medium) Driving roller 16 Light source

Claims (2)

An apparatus for producing a transparent layer for an optical information recording medium, wherein a hard coat layer is formed on the base while the base is transported from a base film as a base film, and a transparent layer for an optical information recording medium is produced. There,
An application part for applying an application liquid for forming the hard coat layer on the base;
A drying section for drying the coating solution applied to the base;
A light irradiating unit that irradiates the surface on which the coating solution of the base is applied with light for curing the coating solution after drying in the drying unit;
The said light irradiation part is a manufacturing apparatus of the transparent layer for optical information recording media which irradiates the said light, including the drive roller used as the reference | standard of the conveyance speed of the said base, and conveying the said base with the said drive roller. An apparatus for producing a transparent layer for an optical information recording medium according to claim 1,
The said application part is a manufacturing apparatus of the transparent layer for optical information recording media which performs application | coating by the post-measurement type application | coating system.

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